Southern California 1st round match ups

In a battle of two teams meeting for the third time this season, 20th seeded Los Angeles Valley (16-12) will take on 13th seeded Ventura in first round action in the Southern California playoffs. The two teams have met two times this season with each team winning a game. Ventura comes into the game as the co champion of the Western State North Conference and Los Angeles Valley finished second place in the Western State East Conference. The winner of this match up will face Chaffey on Saturday on the road.

Ventura (17-11): The Pirates come into the game with a 2-2 record in their last four games but Ventura still managed to pick up a co championship in the Western State North Conference. Ventura won 17 games on the season and nine of their eleven losses came against teams that are in the post season. Los Angeles Valley wont be a new opponent for the Pirates as the two teams are meeting for a third time this season. In the first game of the season, Los Angeles Valley knocked off Ventura 80-70 in Ventura, and the two teams met again in December where Ventura picked up a 93-86 win over Los Angeles Valley on the road. In the Pirates win in December Lamont Landers scored 32 points and made six three pointers. The Pirates come into this game as the favorites and Ventura has three players that average in double figures. Ventura is led in scoring by freshman point guard Timothy Turner as the guard is averaging 13.6 points and 3.3 assists this season. Turner is a spark plug and has had a spectacular freshman season for the Pirates. Tone Patton (12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds), Lamont Landers (10.2 points and 2.6 assists) are two Pirates that average in double figures and will look to provide some scoring punch in the game against Los Angeles Valley. Jelani Bell (9.6 points), Dayveon Bates (8.7 points), Keron Bailey (8.4 points) are all capable scorers and add depth to a very deep Pirate squad. Ventura averages 74.5 points per contest and the Pirates get to the line 22.3 times per game which is 27th in the state. On the defensive end, Ventura gives up 73.6 points per game this season.

Los Angeles Valley (16-12): Los Angeles Valley comes into the contest with a 16-12 record and the Monarchs finished in 2nd place in the Western State East Conference. Los Angeles Valley won their last three games of the season to get into the post season. The Monarchs will look to pick up their second win against Ventura this season as the two teams are meeting for the third time this season. Los Angeles Valley picked up a 80-70 win over Ventura in the season opener as Micah Cooper scored a game high of 25 points in the win. The Monarchs are led in scoring by Micah Cooper as the freshman is averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds this season. Cooper shot 38% from downtown and has been a standout this season for the Monarchs. Christian Hodge is another player that has stood out for the Monarchs as the front court player has averaged 14.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest this season. Hodge provides rebounding and the sophomore shot 58% from the floor in his sophomore campaign. Kody Knox is another standout for the Monarchs as the freshman missed some time but averaged 12.4 points per contest and will look to have a big game against Ventura. Los Angeles Valley averages 72.0 points per contest while the Monarchs give up 68.9 points per contest which is 17th best in the state. The Monarchs have a stingy defense as they hold opponents to 38% shooting against them and opponents only shoot 33% from behind the three point line this season.

(19) Cuesta (21-7) @ (14) Pasadena (17-11)

In another first round match up, Cuesta the co champions from the Western State North Conference will travel to 14th seeded Pasadena (17-11) in first round action. It will be the first meeting between the two teams as the Lancers will host the game.The winner of this game will take on Citrus on Saturday on the road.

Pasadena (17-11): The Lancers come into the game as the 14th seed in the Southern California playoffs after finishing 17-11 and finishing 3rd place in the South Coast North Conference action. Pasadena has struggled to find consistency this season but the Lancers are a solid team that picked up 17 wins this season. Pasadena has four players that are averaging in double figures in scoring as Chris Blount leads the team in scoring as the sophomore is averaging 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest this season. Blount has played well for Pasadena and leads the Lancers in scoring in the 2018-2019 season. Josiah Woods is another player to keep your eye on as the sophomore averaged 12.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game this season. Woods shot 39% from downtown and the sophomore scored a game high of 25 points against Moorpark earlier this season. Khristion Courseault (11.0 points and 3.2 rebounds), Chirs Odionu (10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds), and Jordan Simpson (8.8 points) are all players capable of putting the ball in the basket for the Lancers against Cuesta in first round action. Pasadena averages 72.4 points per game this season and the Lancers give up 69.3 points per contest which is the 20th in the state. Pasadena really strives on the glass as the Lancers are 5th in the state in defensive rebounding (29.8) and 3rd in the state in total rebounds (43.1). Pasadena is solid at the defensive end as the Lancers are the best in the state at protecting the rim as they lead the state with 7.1 blocks a game and the Lancers hold opponents to a 37% clip which is second best in the state this season.

Cuesta (21-7) The Cougars come into the contest as one of the hottest teams in the month of February as Cuesta went 6-0 in the month. The Cougars have had a standout season and are 13-3 in their last 16 games and went 8-2 in conference action to bring home the conference co championship. Cuesta has four players that averaged in double figures and the Cougars are led by sophomore Joshua Wilson-Murry as the sharp shooting guard averages 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest. Wilson-Murry shot 38% from deep and has had one season to remember for the Cougars. Freshman guard Alexandre Fanchini has been another bright spot in the back court for the Cougars as the standout has aveaged 16.8 points and 4.0 assists this season and the guard from France has turned some heads with his standout play this season. Fanchini shot 41% from downtown and made 72 three pointers in his first season with the Cougars. Alexander Karras (11.0 points and 2.6 rebounds) sophomore Iker Cruz (11.2 points and 7.6 rebounds), and Jorge Bueno (8.5 points) have all had solid seasons and will look to provide some scoring against Pasadena in first round action. Cuesta comes into the game averaging 78.5 points per game while giving up 67.6 points per game which is 13th best in the state. Cuesta strives at the three point line as the Cougars make 11.6 threes per game which is the best in the state. The Cougars do not mind putting them up as they take 31.2 per game. Cuesta shoots 37% from downtown which means you should be ready to guard the three point line and they value the basketball as the Cougars turn it over only 12.5 times per contest.

(18) San Diego (16-12) @ (15) Santa Monica (17-11)

In other action, 18th seeded San Diego (16-12) will travel to 15th seeded Santa Monica (17-11) and meet up for the second time this season. In the meeting earlier this season, Santa Monica cruised past San Diego 80-62 in November. The winner of this match up will face off against East Los Angeles on the road on Saturday.

Santa Monica (17-11): Santa Monica comes into the contest with 17 wins and made one of the biggest improvements from last season. The Corsairs finished in 2nd place in the Western State South Conference and finished with a 5-3 record in conference. Santa Monica struggled to find consistency this season but the Corsairs had a difficult schedule and did not back away from playing teams around the state. Santa Monica comes into the contest on a three game winning streak and it will be the second time the teams have met this season as the Corsairs cruised past San Diego 80-62 at the Citrus Tournament in November. In that game, Marcus Harris went for 18 points and LeAndrew Knight added 17 points in the win. The Corsairs have a balanced attack at the offensive end as two players average in double figures. Sophomore Marcus Harris leads the Corsairs in scoring averaging 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest this season. Teddy Parham is the other Corsair in double figures as the freshman standout averaged 10.3 points and 3.7 assists this season. Daison Hughes (8.6 points), Jordan Wilson (8.3 points), Lucas Zemen (7.3 points), LeAndrew Knight (9.5 points), and Kyle Young (9.4 points) are all guys that can put points on the board and will look to contribute against San Diego. Santa Monica averages 77.9 points per game and the Corsairs give up 74.0 points per contest this season. Santa Monica has struggled from downtown this season as the Corsairs are 87th in the state as they shoot 30% from downtown and also struggle from the line as they are 95th in the state shooting 62% from the free throw line. Santa Monica is solid on the glass as they are 7th in offensive rebounding and 12th in the state in rebounding margin.

San Diego (16-12): The Knights come into the contest as the 18th seed after picking up 16 wins and finishing in 2nd place in the Pacific Coast South Conference. San Diego has lost two of their last three games but the Knights but still managed to finish in 2nd place in conference action. The defending state runner ups started the season off 3-0 but struggled to find any consistency following the hot start. The Knights will look to get revenge on Santa Monica as the Knights lost to Santa Monica earlier this season. The Knights have three players that average in double figures led by sophomore guard Joseph Riley. The sophomore guard averaged 15.6 points and shoots 38% from downtown this season for the Knights. Robby Robinson has been another bright spot for the Knights as the freshman averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. Nashom Carter (10.2 points and 3.4 rebounds), Kai Huntsberry (8.5 points) are two other players that will look to pick it up at the offensive end in first round action. Coming into the game, San Diego averages 78.8 points per contest while the Knights give up 72.6 points per game. One area where the Knights strive at is getting to the line as San Diego gets to the line 24 times a game and they make free throws as the Knights were 13th in the state shooting 73% from the line.

(17) San Diego Miramar (16-12) @ (16) Allan Hancock (22-6)

In the final match up of the first round that we are covering 17th seeded San Diego Miramar (16-12) will meet 16th seeded Allan Hancock (22-6) for the first time this season. The winner of this contest will face off against Fullerton later on this week.

Allan Hancock (22-6): Hancock comes into the game as the 16th seed after struggling in the second half of the season and finishing 7-3 and 3rd place in the Western State North Conference. The Bulldogs won four of their last five games including a big win over Ventura to get into the post season. The Bulldogs have two players that are averaging in double figures led by sophomore guard Glenn Jordan who is averaging 11.9 points and 3.3 assists per game. Sophomore Spirit Ricks has played well for the Bulldogs this season as the forward has averaged 11.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in his second season. Mike Mensah (9.6 points) and JT Riddick (9.1 points and 5.0 rebounds) have played well for the Bulldogs this season going into the post season. Allan Hancock averages 79.7 points per contest and the Bulldogs shoot a very high percentage as Hancock was 7th in the state in field goal percentage shooting 48% from the floor this season. Hancock is also a team that strives on the glass as the Bulldogs average 13.5 offensive rebounds per contest and are 5th in the state in rebounding margin at 13.3. Hancock has played well at the defensive side of the ball as they give up 66.0 points per game and hold opponents to 39% from the floor which is 7th best in the state.

San Diego Miramar (16-12): The Jets come into the game after winning their last game of the season. After a hot start in which the Jets started off the season 10-2, Miramar went 6-10 the rest of the way and finished with a 5-5 record in Pacific Coast North Conference action. At one point in the middle of the season the Jets lost eight of nine games and it looked like their season was going down a wrong direction. Miramar is led by sophomore Blake Seits who averaged 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest this past season. Seits had a hot start but fizzled in the middle of the season but still the sophomore shot 40% from downtown and was the focal point of many defenses this season. Damien Miller (13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists) is an all around point guard that does it all and Artis Chapman (12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds) are two other players that provide a scoring punch for the Jets. The Jets average 77.2 points per contest and give up 77.0 points per contest this season. The Jets have been solid from the three point line all season as Miramar makes 9 per game which is 15th in the state and the Jets are 27th in the state in three point field goal percentage as Miramar is shooting 35% from downtown this season.